Online Gambling Increases Tourism in New Jersey

New Jersey's newly regulated online gambling industry has grown steadily over the past six months reports North Jersey. Many Atlantic City businesses initially feared that online gambling would discourage tourism. Recent reports suggest that their fears were unfounded. Online gambling appears to have actually stimulated the state's tourism industry.

Many out-of-state gamblers have traveled to New Jersey to play on the state's thirteen regulated gaming sites. The law restricts online gambling to people located within the state borders. However, the law also allows out-of-state citizens to travel to New Jersey to create accounts and play on regulated sites.

Residents from other states make up a sizeable share of the state's online gaming patrons. A spokesperson from PartyPoker stated that about 15% of its players are from other states.

Mike Azzaro, a professional poker player from New York, is among those traveling to New Jersey to play online gambling. Azzaro said that he can play as often as he wants when he travels from his home town of Yonkers.

The industry is encouraged that so many citizens are traveling from other states to play. The brick-and-mortar casinos have been losing market share to casinos in Pennsylvania and other neighboring states over the past several years. They believe that players from other states will help boost the online gambling industry in the coming months.

The industry has been growing much more slowly than Governor Chris Christie initially predicted. However, activity is on par with the expectations of most industry leaders. Officials from the various casinos stated that they are confident the online gaming market will continue to grow in the months ahead.